Lydia Richards has been celebrating after landing her first win at Goodwood.

Richards, who trains almost within sight of the racecourse at Funtington, near Chichester, landed the Newton Investment Stakes with the eight-year-old Brilliant Red, superbly ridden by Brighton trainer Gary Moore's apprentice Ian Mongan.

Brilliant Red had not won since the autumn of 1999, although prior to that he had scored eight times in races worth £106,000.

Because the gelding is a poor traveller, Lydia cannot enter him at distant racecourses and all his successes, until now, have been at tracks close to London like Ascot, Sandown, Kempton and Lingfield.

She said: "I have only four flat horses in the yard and not had all that many runners at Goodwood anyway."

Brilliant Red has an entry at Sandown on Monday, but Lydia said he is unlikely to run.

Arundel trainer John Dunlop will not now have a runner in the Vodaphone Derby on June 9 after colt Fair Question finished ninth of 11 at Goodwood in the Predominant Stakes behind winner Asian Heights, who should do well in the Epsom classic.

Asian Heights was ridden by Kieran Fallon, who will be on the Guineas' winner Golan in the Derby. Asian Heights, running for only the third time, will have improved by experiencing the hills and turns of Goodwood.

Geoff Wragg, who trained Teenoso to win the Derby 18 years ago, would have preferred to go for the French equivalent on June 3 because Chantilly is a more suitable track than Epsom.

But Hong Kong-based owner/breeder John Pearce is keen to win the English Derby and may never have a better chance.

Fallon, pondering on the chances of Asian Heights, said: "Asian Heights has a definite chance because he will stay the distance and has a good turn of foot at the end, but I'm not going to compare him with Golan."

Darryl Holland, currently on a fortnight's suspension for dropping his hands on the Wragg-trained Island House at Chester when just losing to Kieran Fallon, rides Asian Heights.

Wragg said: "At least he can't get warned off again before the big race because the suspension only runs out a day or so before."

Rod Fabricius, General Manager and Clerk of the Course at Goodwood, reported favourable reaction from racegoers to the changes in the paddock area on the downland course.

He said: "We were blessed with marvellous weather and on Tuesday the attendance was 30 per cent up on last year.

"There are minor issues to be addressed after talking to trainers and officials and canvassing public opinion, but we are confident now that the development will be a success and good value for the £5m it has cost."

Golden Snake, Dunlop's biggest money earner this year, runs in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on the Curragh on Sunday in an effort to increase his tally of group one wins.

Pat Eddery rides and Richard Quinn will ride two Castle Stables runners in Rome on the same day.

Parumani Star and Vision of Night are the two runners in Italy.

Dandoun is expected to go close in the important Heron Stakes at Kempton Park on his way to earning a place in the line-up for the St James' Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

Report by Robin Gray
sports@argus-btn.co.uk